The Football Governance Act has officially become law after receiving Royal Assent, marking a historic moment for the future of English football. The legislation establishes a new, Independent
Football Regulator (IFR), a world-first initiative designed to safeguard clubs, empower fans, and ensure financial stability across the game.
Fulfilling a major commitment from the government’s manifesto, the Act is a cornerstone of its broader Plan for Change, aimed at addressing long-standing vulnerabilities in the sport. The IFR will take action against irresponsible ownership, strengthen financial regulation, and make sure that money flows fairly through all levels of the football pyramid.
This sweeping reform comes in response to years of growing concerns, from the failed European Super League attempt to the financial collapse of clubs like Bury, Macclesfield Town, and Derby County. Fans have too often borne the brunt of poor management decisions, with some clubs brought to the brink of extinction.
The new regulatory regime will cover clubs in the top five tiers of the men’s game, setting clear rules to improve financial resilience, enhance transparency, and restore clubs as community assets.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“This is a proud and defining moment for English football.
As someone who has loved the game all my life, I know just how deeply it runs through our communities. It’s where memories are made, and generations come together.
Our landmark Football Governance Act delivers on the promise we made to fans. It will protect the clubs they cherish, and the vital role they play in our economy.
Through our Plan for Change, we are ushering in a stronger, fairer future for the game we all love”.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy said:
“Football clubs have been built and sustained by fans for generations, but too often they have had nowhere to turn when their clubs have faced crisis. Today that changes as this Act will give hope and assurance to people, with the Regulator working to protect clubs in towns and cities all over the country, where football clubs mean so much, to so many.
From Southend to Blackpool, Portsmouth to Wigan, these reforms have been driven by fans, for fans. I will be forever proud that this Government has delivered on its manifesto pledge to support them by reforming football’s governance, and I pay tribute to all those that have helped us deliver this historic moment for the nation’s game”.
Key Powers of the Independent Football Regulator will include:
- Enforcing new financial regulations to ensure long-term sustainability of clubs
- Strengthening Owners’ and Directors’ Tests, with power to remove unfit custodians
- Guaranteeing greater fan involvement in club decision-making
- Blocking participation in closed competitions like breakaway leagues
- Enabling fairer financial distribution between leagues through backstop powers
- Protecting key heritage elements, such as club names, badges, home colours, and stadiums
The IFR is expected to launch later this year. A transition team, known as the Shadow Football Regulator, has already begun engaging with clubs and fan groups to help shape the upcoming licensing framework. The appointment of an interim CEO and Board will be announced soon.
This landmark legislation represents the most significant shake-up in English football governance in a generation—placing supporters back at the heart of the game, where they belong.
Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) chief executive Kevin Miles said:
“This is an historic moment for football in this country and we are very proud that the FSA was at the heart of change, helping to bring in laws which can help protect the clubs we love from the worst excesses of owners throughout the professional game.
We look forward to working with the regulator, as well as the FA and leagues it covers, to ensure that the supporter voice continues to be at the forefront of debate as fans are the beating heart of the game. Club owners can no longer mark their own homework”.
Sarah Turner, Chair of Supporters Trust at Reading (STAR) said:
“As Reading fans, we’ve seen the damage caused by rogue owners and welcome the independent regulator. When football clubs fail due to rogue ownership, it doesn’t just mean a team slides down the table. Jobs are lost, community projects are cut and businesses suffer - be that via unpaid suppliers or under-occupied pubs.
We know that football is a business, but it is a business unlike any other. There are fans, not customers, players are heroes, not assets, and in these fractured times we should be working doubly hard to protect industries that create unity, community and - very occasionally - unparalleled joy”.
Kieran Maguire, Associate Professor in Football Finance at University of Liverpool said:
“This legislation represents a vital step forward in protecting clubs from exploitation, ensuring they are run more responsibly, and giving supporters a greater voice in how their clubs are managed.
Introducing an independent football regulator is a necessary safeguard to ensure that clubs are not treated solely as assets, but as cultural cornerstones with deep local and national significance”. Photo by Weloc, Wikimedia commons.